KOGAA redesigns Civic Interface in Brno’s Historic Core
KOGAA’s redesign of a municipally owned ground-floor unit in Brno’s historic center establishes a new model for tourist information facilities as adaptable civic infrastructure. The project, TIC Brno, is situated on Zámečnická Street, a high-footfall pedestrian corridor connecting Náměstí Svobody and Dominikánské náměstí, and engages with both heritage constraints and contemporary urban needs. More than a point of orientation, it functions as a cultural interface: hosting micro-exhibitions, showcasing locally made products, and offering space for smaller events and launches.
Externally, the intervention introduces a new travertine stone base and a lightweight signage hood that collectively bring cohesion to a fragmented facade. These elements were developed in dialogue with preservation authorities, including the National Institute of Historical Preservation and Brno’s Department of Historical Preservation, and were designed for gradual implementation to minimize disruption to surrounding active units. The design aligns with the ‘Manual of Good Practice for Advertising and Marking of Establishments’ (2018), integrating signage into a unified and restrained visual language. In a visually saturated urban context, this approach reinforces architectural clarity and public legibility. The travertine base references materials found throughout Brno’s architectural history, while the hood introduces a lighter counterpoint, reducing visual noise and offering a calm interface at street level. Openings along the facade were adjusted to reestablish transparency and align with the building’s original tectonic logic, contributing to a more coherent relationship between interior and exterior.
all images by BoysPlayNice
Chromatic panel structure fabricates TIC Brno’s Interior
Inside the compact footprint, the spatial organization centers around a single multifunctional insert that consolidates core functions: reception, workspace, storage, product display, and public interaction zones. Designed and fabricated by KOGAA Studio in collaboration with DURO Design, a local metalwork studio, the insert is composed of iridescent titanium-clad panels applied using a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) process. This surface treatment produces subtle chromatic shifts in response to daylight, creating a nuanced, dynamic interior quality.
The monolithic insert also acts as a spatial device, structuring circulation and defining user interactions. Lowered portions accommodate staff and visitor desks, recessed volumes serve as display areas, and integrated storage maintains functional efficiency. A bespoke connector system developed by DURO ensures seamless assembly while preserving the sculptural continuity of the installation.
Balancing Heritage and Change in Brno’s Civic Landscape
Beyond its informational role, TIC Brno serves as a venue for micro-exhibitions, product showcases, and smaller cultural events. The programmatic flexibility of the space allows it to evolve in step with the city’s cultural landscape, supporting Brno’s strategic goals of promoting local creativity and participatory engagement. Its content is curated in collaboration with local designers and institutions, maintaining relevance through ongoing rotation.
The project demonstrates how limited spatial interventions can carry broader urban significance. By combining material precision, contextual responsiveness, and programmatic adaptability, the design addresses the intersecting demands of heritage preservation, civic representation, and everyday usability. The juxtaposition of the ephemeral titanium finish and the grounded travertine base encapsulates the architectural intent to balance permanence with transformation. TIC Brno is part of a wider urban strategy that positions Brno as a city rooted in cultural authenticity and civic innovation. Although modest in scale, the project contributes to the redefinition of public infrastructure, establishing a replicable approach to civic architecture that prioritizes design quality and urban continuity.
project info:
name: TIC Brno: The Civic Counter
architect: KOGAA | @kogaa_studio
location: Zámečnická 90/2, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
lead architects: Tomáš Kozelský, Viktor Odstrčilík, Alexandra Georgescu
design team: Kateřina Baťková, Josef Řehák, Markéta Landová, Nikola Linhartová, Kristián Zámečník
client: TIC Brno, Centrála cestovního ruchu – Jižní Morava
bespoke construction and finish: DURO DESIGN
illustrations: Laura Emilija Druktenyte
passport: Plancraft
consultant: Michal Doležel, Veronika Rút
lighting supplier: London Light
photographer: BoysPlayNice | @boysplaynice
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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